NDI Programs in Hong Kong

The NDI sent their first survey mission to Hong Kong in March 1997, prior to Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty in July 1997, followed by thirteen more NDI survey missions Between 1997 and 2012.

The objective of the first and all future missions was identify possibilities for NDI programming in the territory.

First Survey Mission programs

Following the first survey mission in 1997, the following program options for the NDI were identified

1. Monitoring the Development of an Election Framework.

NDI is now organizing an ongoing program to monitor the development of an election framework for the legislative council elections expected in the first half of 1998, including one or more pre-election missions in the second half of 1997 to assess whether the proposed election framework is consistent with international norms. NDI also expects to organize a seminar that would draw on experiences from other countries. Since the Basic Law provides for additional revisions of the election framework for future elections, this issue will continue to be important in the future. A program that monitors the development of an election framework will also help inform the strategy of pro-democracy activists with respect to election issues.

2. Working with Local Elected Officials.

Working with existing democratic political organizations, NDI could also convene one or more workshops with elected District Board representatives in an effort to improve their political organizations and organizing skills. Such programs could help local officials to better address the concerns of their constituencies and to more effectively monitor the impact of government policy on their constituents. As local elected officials and political organizations gain political sophistication and confidence, they become more effective at developing and articulating policies that empower the public and provide alternative, democratic centers of political power¹.

First Survey Mission programs

2006 planning meeting involving HKU-POP and HKBU-HKTP

In February 2006, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) sent an assessment mission to Hong Kong.  The mission comprised George Rakis, Political Director of the Democratic Governors’ Association; Tom Bonier, National Committee for an Effective Congress client liaison and Christine Chung, NDI China Country Director.

Amongst others, the mission met with Professor Michael DeGolyer of the Hong Kong Transition Project of the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU-HKTP) and Robert CHUNG Ting-yiu of the University of Hong Kong’s Public Opinion Programme (HKU-POP).

Professor Michael DeGolyer

Dr Robert CHUNG

The findings of this mission were documented in the NDI report: Contesting Campaigns in Hong Kong: A Critical Look at Infrastructure and Practices², which was written by Belinda Winterbourne, NDI Program Officer in Hong Kong.

The report was intended to both inform NDI’s ongoing training programs of party members as well as to serve as a resource material for Hong Kong parties as they undertake their own strategic planning.

Programs in Hong Kong from 2007

The outcome of the 2006 planning meeting was that in 2007 the NDI consolidated their activities and focused on four complementary programs in Hong Kong:

1. 'The Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong' report series,

2. Public Opinion Polls,

3. Youth Public Participation,

4. Women's Political Participation.

These are details of these programs as recorded on the NDI’s Hong Kong web-page:

'The Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong' Report Series

Between 1997 and 2011, NDI conducted a series of missions to Hong Kong to consider the development of Hong Kong’s election framework, the status of autonomy, rule of law and civil liberties, and the prospects for and challenges to democratization.  NDI has published an ongoing series based on these assessments called The Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong.  The series is shared with media, government and international nongovernmental organizations to raise awareness of Hong Kong’s democratic progress.

Public Opinion Polls

NDI has worked with partners at Hong Kong think tanks and academic institutions to support public opinion polls, which have asked questions about public attitudes toward electoral reform, Hong Kong’s political parties and governance. One recent report from the Hong Kong Transition Project at Baptist University is based on polling in the lead up to the September 2012 LegCo election.  That report covered public perceptions of the political parties and their platforms. Polling and reports are typically presented to local media during a press conference and private presentations are available to all political parties.

Youth Public Participation

NDI has worked with the International Studies Department at Baptist University to encourage youth participation in public policy areas. The Institute launched a youth program in September 2007, where students from across Hong Kong reviewed and responded to the government’s Green Paper Consultation on Constitutional Development. In November 2008, NDI partners organized a summit for students from eight Hong Kong universities.  The students worked in campaign teams to devise campaign strategies and materials, and took part in a set of mock debates around the issues of constitutional reform, environmental regulation and education reform. In December 2009, the Institute and its partners organized a climate change simulation with eight teams of students each playing the role of a major country, negotiating their own version of the United Nations (UN) treaty on climate change.

In February 2010, local NDI partners organized a nonpartisan public debate on constitutional reform in a Model UN format. After this exercise, the students reflected on their own views to draft a consensual document representing their ideas and aspirations for constitutional reform. Students learned parliamentary process and negotiating skills by coming to consensus.  The students’ proposal was submitted to the government as part of the public consultation process. In 2012, NDI sponsored a youth summit on the chief executive election. Participants role-played the part of candidates, election committee members, media and civil society.

Women's Political Participation

In 2007, the Institute launched a women’s political participation program that worked with local civil society partners to enhance women’s participation in policy-making, encourage increased participation in politics and ensure that women’s issues are taken into account in the policy-making process. Subsequently, NDI local partners have conducted outreach to LegCo members to raise awareness of the challenges predominantly female caregivers face in Hong Kong, such as childcare and professional training opportunities.  Campaigns have also engaged with LegCo members on possible changes to Hong Kong’s comprehensive social security assistance scheme and introduction of a minimum wage.

NDI is also working with local civil society partners to carry out the “Young Leaders for Women’s Education and Empowerment Program.”  The program is designed to provide leadership skills and empowerment for a handful of young leaders from Hong Kong and mainland China.  Each participant has received a small grant for a project in her home community.  The program provides skills building for the participants and mentoring for project implementation over several months.  The program seeks to foster a network of leaders from both Hong Kong and mainland China working for women’s empowerment and civic participation³.

NDI Hong Kong webpage - Where we work in Asia

NDI Hong Kong Programs overview 1

NDI Hong Kong Programs overview 2 (continued from 1 above)

References

¹The promise of democratization in Hong Kong. Survey Report. NDI Pre-election report. NDI Hong Kong Report #1. June 10, 1997. See link: First NDI HK Survey report

²NDI report: Contesting Campaigns in Hong Kong: A Critical Look at Infrastructure and Practices. July 2006. See link: Contesting Campaigns report

³NDI. Where We Work - Asia – Hong Kong. See link: NDI Programs in Hong Kong

Photo credits

Professor Michael DeGolyer. Hong Kong Transition Project. Link: Michael DeGolyer photograph

Dr. Robert CHUNG Ting-yiu (鍾庭耀). HKU Scholars Hub. Link: Robert CHUNG photograph

NDI representatives visit Hong Kong in November 2011 and Promise of Democratization Report 15

In the weeks prior to the 6 November 2011 district council elections, representatives from NDI and Victor Perton , the Commissioner to the Americas from the Victorian Government of Australia met with members of the political parties, the judiciary, academia and the press to discuss the overall political environment in Hong Kong.

On the day of the district council elections, representatives from NDI together with the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor observed campaign activities and polling throughout the region and spoke with candidates. Following the 25 March 2012 chief executive election, NDI representatives met with many of the same individuals.

On 21 April 2012, NDI together with Hong Kong University’s Center for Comparative and Public Law and the Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong co-sponsored a public forum where several well-known commentators and political party leaders discussed their views on Hong Kong politics in light of the recent chief executive election.

Promise of Democratization Report 15

The findings of these visits, monitoring and consultations were documented in:

·         The Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong: A Divisive Campaign Season: Hong Kong’s 2011 District Council Elections, 2012 Chief Executive Election and The Challenges Ahead. NDI Hong Kong Report No. 15. 1 July 2012¹.

This report was compiled by:

·         David Caragliano , NDI Senior Program Officer, Asia, principal author;

·         Peter Manikas , NDI Asia Regional Director, principal editor;

·         Tom Barry , Deputy Regional Director, principal editor;

·         Marjan Ehsassi , Senior Program Manager, Asia, principal editor.

In addition:

·         Stephen Tong assisted with meeting coordination;

·         Malte Kaeding assisted with the sections of the report dealing with the November 2011 district council elections.

NDI received input that contributed to this report from individuals with the following affiliations: The Civic Party, The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, The Democratic Party, The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, The Labor Party, The Liberal Party, The New People’s Party, The People Power Party, The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, The Electoral Affairs Commission, The Hong Kong Bar Association, The Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor, The Hong Kong Journalists Association, The Hong Kong Transition Project at Hong Kong Baptist University and SynergyNet.

Focus of the report

This report is the fifteenth in that series. It focuses on the November 2011 district council elections and March 2012 chief executive election.

Through this series of reports, entitled “The Promise of Democratization,” NDI has sought to raise awareness of the challenges and the progress toward “universal suffrage,” which is set forth as the “ultimate aim” in Hong Kong’s Basic Law.

Key findings of the report

The key findings of this report were:

The importance of Public Opinion

Public opinion played an unprecedented role in the 2012 CE election. In the months immediately preceding the election, academia and media outlets released weekly public opinion polls rating the candidates (Page 15).

Other signs point to a strategy on the part of Beijing to invite the EC to consider each candidate’s acceptability to the Hong Kong people.

As early as July 11, 2011, Wang Guangya, the director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, took the opportunity to spell out Beijing’s criteria for the next CE during a visit with the FTU. Wang set forth three criteria:

(1) love of country and of Hong Kong;

(2) a very high capacity for governance; and

(3) broad acceptability by the people of Hong Kong.

The new addition of “broad acceptability to the people of Hong Kong” acknowledges that public opinion should affect CE electability (Page 16).

Two key developments will likely stand out in the minds of Hong Kong people when they recall the March 25, 2012 CE election:

·         One is Beijing’s unexplained announcement in July 2011 of a new “public acceptability” criterion to guide the selection of Hong Kong’s next chief executive.

·         The second is Hong Kong University pollster, Robert Chung’s mock on-line election, allowing Hong Kong people to have a voice (if not a vote) in the process (Page 14).

The opportunity to use public opinion as a tool to influence the political process

Beijing’s nod to public opinion and the enhanced level of competition among three candidates created additional space for civil society to influence the political process (Page 2 and Page 18).

Robert CHUNG’s response to the 2012 Chief Executive Election

In respect of the March 2012 Chief Executive Election:

·         Rather than conduct a public opinion poll, collating the views of a sample of a few hundred citizens over the phone, Hong Kong University Professor Robert Chung sought to solicit public input.

·         His mock election exercise, organized in the face of harsh criticism from the pro-government media, was held two days before the actual chief executive election committee vote.

·         Citizens registered for the referendum using their Hong Kong identification cards and could vote at an online website or through a mobile phone application.

·         Participants could cast their ballots for any one of the three candidates, or they could vote to abstain—effectively an affirmative vote for none of the candidates.

·         Nearly 223,000 citizens, or approximately 5 percent of Hong Kong’s registered voting population, turned out to vote in the referendum, and about 55 percent of them voted to abstain.

·         Chung’s referendum laid bare the shortcomings of the chief executive selection process. The turnout revealed a significant number of Hong Kong people frustrated by the limited options presented by their political system (Page 2)

Hong Kong University professor and pollster Robert Chung announced late in 2011 that he would try to arrange a mock referendum based on the CE election.

Rather than conduct a public opinion polling exercise and solicit the views of a sample of a few hundred citizens over the phone, Chung sought to extend the voting experience more broadly (Page 19).

Pro-Beijing media outlets sharply criticized Robert Chung and the referendum project, but the exercise seemed to proceed as planned until the day of the referendum, when two hackers blocked access to the online site (Page 19).

Complaints of foreign interference

From December 2011 through the date of the referendum exercise, more than 90 critical articles and commentaries were published making inflammatory claims against Robert Chung. Chung was accused of “liaising with British intelligence” and performing on cue for his “American masters.”

Apparently, these criticisms did not have traction with a sizable segment of the Hong Kong population (Page 20).

Denial by the NDI of involvement with Robert Chung in the Civil Referendum project

Footnote 49 on Page 20 ‘denies’ NDI involvement in the Civil Referendum project as follows:

“An article in Wen Wei Po criticized Robert Chung for the fact that he has accepted funding from NDI. See黎子珍 < 指点江山：钟庭耀是一个政治掮客 > 《香港文匯報》 2012-02-09.

Available at http://paper.wenweipo.com/2012/02/09/HK1202090017.htm

While Professor Chung has collaborated with NDI on public opinion polling projects in the past, NDI did not provide funding or technical support in connection with the 3.23 Civil Referendum project”. 

IV. The March 2012 Chief Executive Selection Process

The events of 2003 led to Tung’s ouster. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) spread to Hong Kong from Mainland China. This health emergency caused around 300 deaths in Hong Kong, widespread illness and panic. Central Government Authorities initially regarded SARS as a state secret impeding public awareness and containment of the virus. At about the same time, the HKSAR government attempted to introduce controversial national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law. These events led to popular upsurge of approximately half a million protesters calling for Tung to step down. The event provided Beijing with a warning on the hazards of endorsing a CE out of sync with public opinion. Tung eventually did resign as CE, citing health reasons in March 2005 (Page 14/15).

Article 23

Article 23 of the Basic Law is one of the most controversial provisions in Hong Kong’s constitution. It provides:

The [HKSAR] shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People’s Government, or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the Region, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the Region from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies.

The implementation of Article 23 in a way that is acceptable to Beijing while respecting the rights and freedoms of the Hong Kong people has been one of the most difficult challenges faced by the Hong Kong government. The push to pass Article 23 legislation in 2003 led to a demonstration of more than half a million Hong Kong people. The government was compelled to withdraw the bill from the legislature. The legacy of “people power” is now part of Hong Kong politics. (Page 24).

The Hong Kong government will have to wrestle with the difficulties of drafting Article 23 legislation in the near future. Public opinion, both local and international, should inform the debate. Concerns about certain vague clauses in the original bill hinge, in part, upon the autonomy of the HKSAR government and the independence of the judiciary (Page 25).

Reference 

¹The Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong: A Divisive Campaign Season: Hong Kong’s 2011 District Council Elections, 2012 Chief Executive Election and The Challenges Ahead. NDI Hong Kong Report No. 15. 1 July 2012 Link to all Promise of Democratization Reports